Mystery and Crime Fiction posted February 13, 2025 Chapters:  ...33 34 -35- 36... 


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The Search
A chapter in the book Veil of Secrets

Veil of Secrets - Chap 35

by Begin Again


"Hey, Garth, slow down." Tango took a deep breath, slumping onto a fallen tree trunk.

Garth stopped, pivoting back toward Tango. His voice was gruff, still edged with frustration. "What's the matter? You can't keep up with the old man?"

Tango huffed a dry laugh. "Old man? There's not a guy out here who can hold a candle to you when you're on a mission."

"If there are women out here, it's our job to find them. DeLuca's crew will be here in about an hour, and I'd rather put this one to bed before they take over. I need to focus on Rebecca."

Tango unscrewed the lid of his thermos and poured a steaming cup of coffee. He held it out. "Then pace yourself. We're no good to anyone if we drop."

Garth took the cup, saluting Tango with it before taking a sip. The heat burned his throat, grounding him for a moment. "You're a good man to have around."

"Just doing my job, boss. We all want to get to Rebecca, but if we don't do this right, we won't get to either job."

Garth turned, scanning the vineyard and the open stretch of land leading to the cliffs. The storm had reshaped the landscape — fallen branches, deep ruts in the mud, and twisted vines.

"We're missing something, Tango. She was here. They all were." His voice tightened, his gaze locked onto the earth as if willing it to give up its secrets. "But we only have torn pieces of fabric and her locket."

Tango exhaled, shifting his weight. "The storm didn't help. Whatever clues that were here got washed away."

"No," Garth said, shaking his head. "She was here, Tango. I can feel it in my damn bones." His fingers curled into fists. If he had been faster, smarter, or just listened, maybe Rebecca wouldn't be missing.

"She might have been, but the boy came from the opposite direction, through the trees and up toward the hills." Tango hesitated, then added, "By the looks of his arms, they were in coyote country."

"I know," Garth said through gritted teeth. "You think I haven't thought about that all night? She could still be out there or —" He cut himself off before the thought fully formed.

"Don't go there," Tango warned. "She's somewhere safe. Maybe with this Lenore woman, he keeps mumbling about."

"You mean the woman who saw Miriam hung? That's just a twisted-up memory in his head."

"Maybe," Tango admitted. "But that doesn't mean she isn't real. And if she's real, she might be keeping Rebecca safe."

Garth tossed out the last of his coffee, his jaw tight. "Standing here talking isn't finding her. Let's move."

Before they could take another step, a voice said, "I can help — if you'll let me."

Both men spun, their hands instinctively reaching for their weapons before recognition set in. They hadn't seen or heard anyone approaching.

Antonio materialized.

Tango greeted him first. "At this point, I'll take all the help we can get. The storm did a lot of damage."

Antonio's gaze passed over Garth and then settled on Tango. "The spirits were angry."

Garth snorted, his patience thinning. "Spirits." He spat the word out like a bad taste in his mouth. "The only thing that storm did was wash away every damn clue we had." He turned back to the cliffs. "Now, there's nothing."

Antonio shook his head, his expression calm but firm. "You're wrong. Because of the storm, you saved the other women and locked up the men." He swept his gaze across the field, eyes settling on the wreckage. Nature's fury had reshaped the landscape. His eyes were dark as he said, "But there's something hidden here."

"I don't have time for this." Garth's patience snapped. "If those women are still out here, they're dying. If we aren't already too late." He turned on his heel, barking orders as he walked away. "Tango, have the men spread out. Move toward the cliffs."

Antonio remained still, unwavering. "Do you have something of hers?"

Tango glanced at Garth, knowing he carried the locket in his pocket. "Garth," Tango called out, his tone careful. "You don't have to believe him. But what does it hurt to let him try?"

Garth's fingers clenched around the locket in his pocket. He hadn't let go of it since they found it. It felt like a taunt — a cruel reminder of how close he had been to finding her — only to lose her again.

Time was running out. If the women were in that tunnel, the collapse could have buried them alive.

Tango took a step closer. "Come on, boss. We don't have any other clues."

Garth hesitated. His jaw flexed, his face shadowed beneath the brim of his Stetson, but finally, he pulled out the locket. He tossed it to Antonio. "Here. But when you're done with your magic tricks, I want it back."

Antonio caught it, shaking his head slightly. "It is not magic." He pressed the locket to his chest, whispering something too soft for the others to hear. Then, louder, he said, "Faith comes from the soul. You must believe."

He turned and took a few steps, holding the locket against his chest. Garth and Tango watched him — one with hope, the other buried in turmoil.

Suddenly, Antonio's body trembled. His legs buckled, and he collapsed to his knees. His face contorted in pain.

Both men rushed forward, but Antonio held up a hand, the locket dangling from his fingers. His lips parted, his words barely a whisper. "She's been here."

He pointed past the wreckage toward fallen trees and tangled vines. Then, as if the weight of the revelation had completely drained him, he slumped to the ground.

While Tango tended to Antonio, Garth spun, his heart pounding.

A voice rang out from the cliffs. "Over here!"

Garth charged forward, shoving through low-hanging limbs, their wet leaves slapping against his jacket. "What is it?"

The man pointed, his flashlight illuminating something half-buried beneath a thick tangle of vines and broken wood — a rotting wooden shack.

The dangerous sagging roof had decaying slats, warped and blackened by time and weather. One entire side had collapsed inward, exposing the jagged mouth of a tunnel entrance beneath it.

Garth's stomach twisted. How had they missed this before?

His fingers curled into fists. Rebecca had been right here, right in front of him. And he hadn't seen it. A violent surge of rage and regret slammed through him, but there was no time for that now.

"Move those branches!" he bellowed.

The team jumped into action, tearing away vines and debris. As the men cleared the last heavy branch, the tunnel revealed itself — a black, gaping void leading into the earth.

The men heard the sounds — faint at first —then clearer — muffled screams.

Garth's stomach clenched. He didn't hesitate. He shouted, "We're going in."

*****
The air inside the tunnel was stale.

Water trickled from the ceiling, running down the rough stone walls in thin, glistening streams. Their boots splashed through shallow pools, sending ripples through the murky floodwaters.

Garth moved quickly, flashlight beam bouncing off the damp walls, scanning for any sign of movement.

Then — they hit the wall. Garth proceeded swiftly, directing the flashlight beam along the damp walls, meticulously scanning for any indication of movement. The tunnel entrance had caved in — a solid collapse of stone, mud, and twisted beams.

"Damn it!" Tango cursed, slamming his fist against the rock.

Garth pressed both hands to the earth, his heart hammering in his chest. His stomach clenched. "They're still in there!"

One of the men stepped forward, examining the wreckage. "The collapse is too deep — we can't break through by hand."

"Then we dig," Garth snarled.

Tango hesitated. "Boss, the structure — if we start breaking through the wrong way, the whole thing could—"

Garth grabbed his jacket, shoving him back. "I don't care what it takes! We dig them out!"

Tango cursed and nodded. He knew that Garth was beyond rationalizing things. The bent-up frustration was now driving him forward. He had a mission.

"Go back to the house!" Garth bellowed. "Get shovels, pickaxes, whatever you can carry!"

Tango didn't argue. He turned and sprinted back up the tunnel, his footsteps echoing as he called to the others.

Garth stayed, pressing his ear to the rock. He whispered, his words inaudible. He jerked when he felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Antonio. He couldn't say thank you, but his eyes said it all.

Antonio handed Garth the locket and then faded away.
 
*****

Near the women, the tunnel was collapsing around them. They'd lost track of time. Had it been days? It felt like weeks. Their stomachs had shriveled with hunger — their lips cracked, their tongues swollen from thirst. Some had stopped speaking entirely, their eyes hollow and unfocused.

The water had come, rising to their ankles and dragging debris with it. A section of rotted wooden beam knocked against Ashley's leg, scraping her skin. She shoved it aside, her pulse racing. "We have to move!" she gasped, her voice weak but sharp.

Kristen's voice trembled, "Did you hear those voices? It's the men. They'll save us."

Ashley hissed, "Save us? So, they can sell us like a piece of meat?"

Tanya yanked on the rusted cell door. "We can't get out."

A deep groan rattled through the tunnel. Ashley's head snapped up as a section of the ceiling cracked, then crumbled. A chunk of stone dropped into the water. The walls were breaking apart. Several of the women screamed. Others cowered in the corner of their cages.

Tanya sobbed, "The woman said she'd send help. Maybe that's who's coming."

Ashley, though terrified, was determined not to stand around and wait. Their only hope was to escape the same way Rebecca and Travis had done — with ropes. In her mind, the voices they heard belonged to the smugglers, and she wasn't going to let them touch her again. If she were going to die, she'd do it on her terms.

She sloshed through the water until she found the rope. Lifting it out, she held it up so the others could see it. "If they got out that way, we can too."

"I can't." Tanya cried. "Let's just wait."

Ashley shook her head. "You can wait if you want, but I'm going. It's your choice, but I'm not leaving my life in someone else's hands."

As she tried to toss the rope over the overhead bars, Lee Ann stepped up. "Here, let me help. I'll lift you so you can reach the bars easier."

Ashley nodded and slipped her wet shoe into Lee Ann's cupped hand. Lee Ann's weak body swayed under the extra weight, and Ashley toppled into the water. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm not as strong as I thought I was."

Ashley stood, squeezing the water from her shirt. "Don't worry. Let's try again."

This time, it worked, and she tossed the rope ladder around the bars. As she stepped off Lee Ann's hands, she gave her a high five. "It's not very long."

"It's long enough." Lee Ann turned toward the others. "There's another rope somewhere under the water. If any of you others are coming, I suggest you find it and do exactly what Ashley and I did."

Some didn't move. They stared as if their defeat was inevitable, but soon others started wading through the water, clearing away debris, until one girl yelled, "I found it!"

Their escape was underway.

*****

Ashley turned toward the girl who had found the second rope. "Good! Now tie it off the same way I did." The girl hesitated, but another woman stepped in to help, securing it with steady hands.

The ground rumbled beneath them again, a groaning protest from the collapsing tunnel. The water had risen to their knees, making every movement sluggish. Ashley could hear the distant echoes of voices — some deep and sharp, others frantic.

"Whoever's coming, we don't want to be here when they arrive," she said, gripping the rope ladder and pulling herself up.

One by one, they climbed. Ashley was the first to hoist herself over the rusted bars at the top, her muscles screaming with exhaustion. She reached down, helping the next girl over, then the next. When Tanya reached the top, she turned to see the others still frozen below.

Three women stepped back, pressing themselves against the cold stone. "We're waiting," one of them said, her voice shaking but firm. "If it's help, they'll find us."

"And if it's not —" Ashley shrugged and didn't wait for their answer.

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Recognized


Main Characters -
Spirits from the past -
Eleanor Bennett - ghost detective
Danni - jr. ghost detective working with Matthew Donatelli
Cornelius Webb - Miriam's nemesis and murderer
Miriam Cascio - Trevor's murdered bride, Rebecca's grandmother and protector of the Vineyard
Antonio Maggio - Rebecca's grandfather and Miriam's first love

Bayside's Community --
Jenna Bennett - Event planner, Eleanor's daughter, Maggie's mother, Donatelli's love
Matthew Donatelli - Bayside's lead detective and Maggie's father
Rebecca Cascio Stillwell - recently inherited the Vineyard after discovering her adoption
Garth Woodman - FBI Agent and widower (Allie) and potentially interested in Rebecca
Joseph DeLuca - Bayside detective
John Doyle - Ex-judge, nemesis to all, and escaped prisoner from Joliet State Prison.
Vince Rossi - mobster and Doyle's cellmate and escaped prisoner
Grayson Webb - grand nephew and recently inherited the Webb Estate
Althea Webb Cascio - mother to Travis and half-sister to Rebecca
Travis - missing boy
Amelia - girl in the caves
Phil Henderson - Bayside family lawyer
Maria - a woman escaping the tunnels
Lenore - an old woman with a wolf dog and magic
Criminals -
Zhang Wei - once involved in human trafficking with Doyle, seeks revenge for his career losses after Doyle's downfall from the Judge's bench.
Frank DiVito - retired gangster and childhood friend of Garth
Sam - Frankie's right-hand man and friend
Jack Lexington - Chicago kingpin
Tony "The Hawk" - Salvatore "Sal" and Vito Greco -- the New York mob
Smugglers from New York
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